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STATS EISTCSICii SCCIHT UNTY THE MOST WIDELY CIRCULATED WEEKLY NEWSPAPER IN FRANKLIN COUNTY BUNI Established in the Year 1S6S Ho Change In England's Roads Since the Kiddle Ages Despite High Gas Tax By BOB STERN. VacaUoninr Witk lUWUrr In Entland Doing anything for lunch tomorrow? All right, let a dozen or so of you meet at noon and I'll have the same number of British drivers present, and well compare roads During the luncheon, you'll no doubt discuss new cars and perhaps start a lively debate on driving on the right versus driving on the left. After you have ordered a second cup of coffee and the Britisher beside you a second cup of tea you are thinking of something to say when be asks, "By the way, how much do you pay for petrol in this country?" "Petrol?" you repeat. "Oh, yes, you mean gas. Well, it varies, of course, depending on where you happen to be, but around here it's about 27 cents." Your friend does some quick currency conversion and then astonishes you by saying, "We pay gallons (the Imperial gallon used in Britain and on the Continent is slightly larger than the American gallon)." He quickly adds, "You sec, our petrol tax alone is 30 cents a gallon." "Thirty cents!" you exclaim, attracting everyone's attention. "Why, over here the average is less than 10 cents. (Conclusion:) You certainly must have a wonderful road system." The Britisher shifts uncomfortably in his chair, looks mournfully at his colleagues and almost wails, "It's a frightful system, I'm sorry to say." "What!" "Yes. In the past 40 years, our population has increased nearly 20 percent, and the total number of vehicles has gone up more than 3,000 percent (now nearly six million), but " he pauses for emphasis, "our total road mileage has increased by less than 9 per cent." Absurd, you think, and are about to say so when the visitor continues: "And in the last 20 years there have been virtually no what you would call highways built." "Just a moment," you interrupt. "What about your 30 cents-a- gallon tax? Where does it go?" "tot me put it this way. Most of it DOESN'T go for roads. You see, ever since the first World War, our Road Fund, into which were supposed to go fuel and license taxes, has been continually raided, much of it going into general rev enue. And for the last 18 years, these taxes have been paid direct ly into the treasury, and road fund appropriations have been granted as Parliament has seen fit. "Whereas about 90 cents of your tax dollar is fed back into your highways, about 10 cents is earmarked for our roads. "And here's something else you'll be surprised to learn. While a car license costs you, on an av erage of $10 a year, our people have to pay $35 a year." About now you're beginning to fed genuinely sorry for your British friend. A neighbor, who hauls produce, asks how British commercial transport makes out in this situation The Britisher replies, "Not too well. Our speed limit for trucks is 20 m.p.h." When the gasps die down, he adds, "But on an opera tional basis, it is generally figured at 16 m.p.h." "Hold on now," you object im patiently. "If this condition has existed for so long, why hasn't something been done? I m no poll tician, mind you, but I know darn well nothing like what you've been saying would ever happen over here at least not for long." "Right you are, old man. In the first place, a considerably higher proportion of Americans are af fected directly by the motor ve hicle, and hence by motor vehicle legislation. Over here, every third ocrson owns a vehicle; in our country, it's every eighth. "In the second place and this may be crux of the matter we never do anything new in our country until we've proved it works so many times that it be comes obsolete. "Our roads proved fairly satis factory, you know, in the 19th century. Sir Anthony Eden, in fact, went farther still when he said, The truth is that the pat tern of the (road) system in this country dates back to life and trade as they prevailed in the Middle Ages.' "Don't worry, though. There'll come a time and everyone seems to think it's about here when we'll all get out of bed one morning, dash out and madly begin bringing our road system up to date." . You lean forward and ask apologetically, "Is anything at all being done RIGHT NOW to solve your problem?" "Oh yes," replies the visitor. The latest Government program authorises the spending of $271 million by 1999, but this does'nt necessarily mean that amount will be spent And remembering a five-year plan in 1939, which was abandoned, and 10-year plan in 1948, which wasn't evea started, w aren't toe impressed by th newest one. "And even If the lull mount about 31 cents for.one of your is spent, it would be only on by passes and short roads. We'll have to wait until 1960 before any new highways are begun. Of course, something map crop up before then. "I believe you people like to use the word 'first', in the sense that you've accomplished some thing that no one else has ac complished. Well, we have a few firsts too. But not all of them de note pride. For example, in our financial year 1992-53, taxes from vehicles were more than 10 times the amount our Government spent on roads, which made our country unique in this respect. "We earned another first in the ratio of new road construction to total highway expenditures. In your country, about 62 cents of each road dollar was used to fi nance construction, putting the U.S. in first place. Down the list, at the bottom is our cent and a half. The other 98 'A cents went toward patching up our existing roads. "As a result of all this, we can claim a first in road density. You're about third with 15.9 ve hicles per mile; second is West Germany, and at the top of the list is Britain with about 19 per mile." It is clearly lime to go, but as you are about to get up, someone asks if the accident rate is as high as in the States. Another Britisher takes out notebook and while everyone gets up from the table, he refers to the American periodical, Accident Facts: "According to this, your road fatalities per hundred mil lion vehicle-miles have been grad ually reduced from 16.2 in 1938 to 7.3 in 1952. In comparison, our figure for 1949 was 14, a good deal higher." .... "You know," you say to your guest as you are about to go your separate ways, "we had pretty famous man not long ago Mark Twain was his name who has generally been credited with first saying, 'Everyone talks about1 " "Precisely," interrupts the Brit isher. "Everyone talks about the roads, but no one docs anything about them. Well, I certainly hope that does'nt remain a truism much longer." ' (Acknowledgment for most of the foregoing facts, figures and sentiments is gratefully accorded the British Road Federation: the Standing Joint Committee of the Royal Automobile Club, the Auto mobile Association and the Royal Scottish Automobile Club; the British Broadcasting Corporation and stated opinions from numer ous private British citizens.) Student Nurse At Deaconess Hospital Miss Dorothy Knollmann, daugh ter of Mrs. Henry Schlake of near Union, was capped as a student nurse of the Deaconess School of Nursing at ceremonies held in the school auditorium in St. Louis recently. Miss Knollmann is s graduate of the Union High School,. Class of 1954. LOSES APPEAL Mcridcth L. Weston of St. Louis, found guilty in circuit court of exhibiting obscene and lewd pictures, lost his appeal when the St. Louis Court of Appeals affirmed the judgment of Judge Tate's court on March 4. Weston was found guilty and fined $900 about a year ago. STILL IN HOSPITAL IN SERIOUS CONDITION Russell Huff was moved from St. Francis Hospital to St. Joseph's Hospital in Kirkwood where he was placed under the care of a brain specialist. Although he is now conscious for a few moments at a time he is still considered in a critical condition and no visitors are allowed to see him. James Collins of Union, who was charged with felonious assault on Huff, was released last week on $24)00 bond. The preliminary bearing, which was set for Wednesday, has been continued on account of Huffs condition UNION, Lutherans Join In Easter Sunrise Service County Group Will Again Use Sunset Drive-In Theatre On Highway 47 The Lutheran Churches of Franklin County are joining forc es in an Easter Sunrise Service which will be held at six o'clock Easter Sunday morning at the Sunset Drive-In Theatre on High way 47, between Union and Wash ington. Last year Rev. A. W. Maack of Union, was the speaker. There were 900 who attended in 275 cars, 80 of which were from Un ion. This year Rev. Daniel Ober- dicck, pastor of the Immanucl Lutheran Church of Washington, will be the speaker. He will be assisted by Rev. A. W. Maack, Un ion; Kcv. Walter Gieselmann, Beaufort; and Rev. Frank Zirbcl, Leslie. The committee of laymen, sponsoring the service, is com posed of Malcolm Essen, Union, chairman; Roy Luecker, Leslie, se cretary; Walter Althage, Wash-ington, publicity director. Music for the occasion will be provided by a choir selected from the Lutheran churches in this area. Will Start New Baptist Building Next Month With a total of $50,000 already subscribed towards their new Educational Building, members of the First Baptist Church met for a Kick-Off dinner at the church Wednesday night. Construction will begin in two or three weeks on the land recently purchased by the church on Highway 50. C. S. Alberts of Jefferson City has the contract for the building which will be a three-story HayditeytJriock and brick structure. Bonds in denominations from $50 to $1,000 and bearing 5 interest semi-annually, will be sold to finance the project. Present goal is $100,000. Rev. Ralph F. Powell is pastor of First Baptist Church which was organized 35 years ago. The present structure on Church and State Street has been too small to accommodate the growing congregation for some time. Although a new sanctuary is also needed, the Educational Building was re garded as the more pressing, according to Reverend Powell. The pastor and Mrs. Powell and their family arrived in Union last July from Atlanta, Ga. Entertains Star Matrons and Patrons Mrs. Luclla Hocmcycr, District Deputy Grand Matron, entertained the Worthy Matrons and Patrons of the 32nd District, Order of the Eastern Star, at a covered dish dinner Sunday evening, March 6, with Matrons and Patrons of Un ion, St. Clair and Sullivan acting as joint hostesses and hosts. All chapters were represented with the exception of Robertsville, whose Worthy Patron has just returned home after a serious op eration. It was decided at the meeting to organize a 1955 Matrons and Patrons Club of the 32nd District, with Mrs. -Aneta Iman as chair man, Mrs. Luella Hocmcyer, vice- chairman, and Mrs. Esther Buch-holz as secretary-treasurer. Quar terly meetings and a Christmas party will be held, with the next meeting in New Haven June 5. Tax Gcsninissien To Licet Here On Tax Valuations County Board of Equalization Invites School & City Officials To Discussion The Stale Tax Commission will meet in the County Court room Thursday afternoon at two o'clock with the County Board of Equali ration to discuss the blanket raise ordered by the commission for this county a 60 per cent in crease for city property and a 40 per cent increase in rural property valuations. Members of the County Court trust that school officials and representatives of var ious city governments will attend this discussion so that the valuation raise may be satisfactorily explained and understood. FRANKLIN COUNTY, MISSOURI, THURSDAY, MARCH Wins Elks Award mm ii un u ! iiiiiii hi " ""i't Elmer Berding of the Washington presenting a icheck for $25 to MissSuzann Rommelmann, winner of the Elks Youth Leadership Award. Miss Rommelmann, a senior at the Sullivan High School, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Rom mclmann. Her entry, chosen the winner from contestants in Gascon' adc, Franklin, Warren and Montgomery counties, will be entered in the state competition in the near future. Mr. Berding was the chairman of the blks Committee which will Ends Successful Career As County Official A long and successful career in public office ended Tuesday morning when Edwin T. Kappcl-mann turned over the county collector's office. Kappelmann, who was not a candidate in the last election, was succeeded by Orvillc O. Wagner of Washington. Kap-pelmann's final settlement will be made with the county court today, Thursday, although Wagner be gan work on Tuesday of this week Edward Bauchc and Lois Web ber, appointed by Kappelmann, will continue in the collector's office. Kappelmann, a Republican, took office on March 6, 1943, succeed ing Hamilton Brightwcll, Demo crat, who held office for one term, lie had entered county politics in 1926 when he made his first race for the collector's office and George II. Meyer was elected. Previously he had served for twelve years as city collector at Washington and then spent six years in the hardware and implement business in that city. Kappelmann was living on the farm near New Haven when World War I broke out and he entered service. He was wounded on the Flanders front eleven days before the Armistice. Following his war service he worked for about a year and a half in the International Factory in Washington.During his three terms in office he has seen a number of changes in the collector's work. Asked about the increase in county business during that time he recalled that during his first year the collections amounted to $460,000 while last year they amounted to approximately $1,300,000. PRISONER BURNS BLANKET & MATTRESS One prisoner in county jail will be cold and uncomfortable until he pays for the mattress and blanket he burned up, according to H. Bill Miller, sheriff. The prisoner, Charles Luparcll, set fire to a new blanket and mattress recently purchased by the county and ruined both of them Tuesday morning. Luparcll, who has only been in Franklin County a week, has been in trouble most of the time since he moved to Pacific from Springfield, III. Arrested for careless and reckless driving he was given a suspended sentence of 30 days in jail and a fine of $10 by Judge Randolph H. Schaper, on Thursday. When he became violently abusive of the judge and the police he was found in contempt of court and committed to jail to serve out the sentence, fine and costs at the rate of $2 per day. LIVE BROADCASTS OF BAPTIST SERVICES Live broadcasts of the full morning serivce of First Baptist Church are now being transmitted over KU'W. local radio sUlion. Services begin at 10:49 every Sun day morning and continue for one hour. The live broadcasts began two weeks ago. Previously the services bad been broadcast on recordings. for Leadership - v-.sK.Jr -,i'J?""J"T-" 'I1 -4. YVl v afetttnt Lodge No. 1559, B.P.O.E., is shown make this award annually. Seriously Hurt In Auto Collision Tuesday John Louis Pruitt, 44, of Osage City, sustained serious injuries when he lost control of his car Tuesday morning about ten o'clock and crashed head-on into an auto transport. Pruitt was heading west on U.S. 66 cast of George's Apple Station. He cut out of his lane to pass some cars and apparently lost control as he approached a Chevrolet driven by Jessie Blcse of Sherman, Mo., followed by an auto transport driven by James K. Edgcman of Tulsa. The auto transport drove into the middle lane in an effort to miss a collision but I'ruitt's car hit the Chevrolet a glancing blow and then crashed head-on into (he transport. I'ruitt's car and the transport were severely damaged. Pruift alone sustained serious injuries.. He is in St. Francis Hospital with a possible skull fracture and severe lacerations about the head and shoulders. Argument and Shotgun Duel Hospitalizes Two Jones Form, Near Robertsville, Popular 3.2 Beer ioint for Negroes 1 A Sunday afternoon fight at the Jim Jones farm on Robertsville Route 2 ended in a shooting' with Roy Stanley of Washington and Mack Brown of Robertsville the casualties. All those involved were negroes. The Jones Farm where the shooting occurred is a popular hang-out with a license to sell 3.2 beer. Brown went home to get his gun after a fight with Johnny Brooks, Pacific. Brooks, also arm cd, watched with Stanley as Brown got out of his car and circled the house. As he ncarcd the kitchen door someone called "There he is," and Brown fired his 12 guage shotgun loaded with a single deer slug. The slug, about the size of a man's thumb, penetrated the wall ot the porch, went through Man' ley's ankle joint, through two sides of a gas stove, a coal bucket and finally lodged in the base board of the next room. As Brown ran back to his car to get another slug Brooks fired his 12 guage through a window pane and peppered him with No. 6 shot. Stanley was taken to Veterans Hospital in St. Louis and Brown to St. Francis. Brown is charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill. MATHEW STUCKEL DEAD Mathew J. Stuckcl, who has !cen in ill health for some time, died at his home Tuesday evening, March S. Funeral services for Mr. Stuckel, who was in his 61st year, will be held at 2 p.m. Friday from the Zion E. k R. Church with interment in the church cemetery. The remains will rest at the Union Funeral Home until noon oo Friday. 10, 1955 Compromise On State Extension Sponsorship Dill House Committee Approves Measure Cutting Ties with Private Agencies The House Agriculture Commit tee Tuesday agreed on a compro mise bill proposing to sever the State Extension Service fromjof sponsorship of outside agencies. Most members of the committee said the bill still was not entirely acceptable, but it was the consensus that the bill should be sent to the floor for further debate. Several amendments recommended by the University of Missouri anrl offered by Representative Robert Smith (Dcm.), Boone county, were adopted by the committee Smith said the changes were considered necessary to make the bill constitutional. The committee compromise left in the extension program the provision for county advisory coun cils one man and one woman from each towsnhip. The councils will work with county farm and home agents who arc employes of the university. County Appropriations Appropriation minimums which must be budgeted by the various county courts to finance extension offices were accepted as recommended by an agriculture subcom mittee. They were as follows: For first and second class counties, $10,000 a year; larger third class counties, $3000; smaller third class counties, $2500; larger fourth class counties $1900; and smaller fourth class counties, $1200. One amendmnct sponsored by Smith and added to the bill read as follows: "The University of Missouri, be fore assigning or removing any agents or extension personnel, shall first consult with and advise with the elected agriculture extension council of the county affect, cd." Additional language was added by committee members to provide that an agent may be changed "if the personnel offered is not satisfactory to the advisory council." AUXILIARY SPONSORS ESSAY CONTEST Union Unit No. 297, American liCgion Auxiliary, sponsored the Americanism contest in the Union schools during February, Americanism month on their calendar of activities. The topic was "How ( an I Best Preserve My American Heritage? ' There were two dvi. sions, with awards in each division. In Division II, composed of 10th, 11th and 12th grades, there was onlv one ntrv n first nlar was awarded to Terry Lindemann. Terry is a sophomore in Union High School. In Division I, composed of the 7th, 8th and 9th grades, first place was awarded to Michael Conlcy, 8th grade, Immaculate Conception School; second place to Judy Jarvis, 8th grade, Union Grade School; third place to Sandra Clark, 8th grade, Immaculate Conception School; fourth place to Sally English, 8th grade, Immaculate Conception School. First place in each division will be forwarded to the District for further competition. Judges were Mrs. Alice Toclkc, Mrs. H. M. Denny and Mrs. Polly Scott. $1379 In Fines Paid To City by Police Court Five Cases Heard by Police Judge Keller Soturday Geo. Keller, police judge, has reported total fines collected and paid into the city treasury of $1379 during 1994. The fines ranged from $1 to $100. Five cases were heard by Judge Keller Saturday. Tom Pointer and A. W. Kassman were each assessed $1 fine and costs for being intoxicated; Don Ridglcy was fined $9 and costs for operating a car upon the streets of Union with muffler cut-out and $39 and costs for operating car at an excessive rate of speed upon the streets of Union; and Jess Schsfferkoetter was fined $9 and eosts for being Intoxicated and entering the home of James and Minnie Burton against their will. Mrs. Wm. Buchanan and sons, Denny and Michael, plan to leave Monday for Bradenton, Ha., where they will join Mr. Buchanan who is assisting his father, Olus C. Buchanan, in his business during bis illness. Distribution Ordered of the County and Township School Fond How in US Bonds Named Homemaker of Tomorrow Lorna Kalthoff, daughter of Mrs. Elenora Kalthoff of Beaufort, has been named the "Homemaker of Tomorrow" in Union High School. She received the highest score in a written examination which tested the homemaking aptitude the senior girls in her gradu- ation class. She will receive a gol den award pin. cook books for her- self and her school, and she will be entered in competition to name this state's candidate for the title ot Betty Crocker American Home, maker of Tomorrow. A scholarship ot $1,900 will be awarded each state winner, and she will receive a trip with her school advisor to Washington, D.C., Williamsburg, Vs.. and Philadelphia. Her school will receive a set of the Encyclo pedia Britannica. Two Youths Sent To Boonvllle for Robbery Charles Vernon Martin, 13, and David Cantrell, 19, were taken to Roonville Tuesday. William Glumm, 17-year-old third member of the group that burglarized the DUncan and Dierking homes near St. Clair, was bound over to the circuit court and committed to jail. All three had served time at Missouri Hills and drove out to Franklin County in a car stolen by Cantrell in St. Louis. Cantrell. who escaped when thev were discovered at the Ed win Dierking home, was arrested the next day by St. Clair police Some of the jewelry which they look has been recovered but most of it was lost when the boys ran into the woods, MRS. MARGARET FEES DEAD Mm. Margaret Fees, who was in her 87th year, died at the M Francis Hospital in Washington Tuesdsy evening, Msrch 8. Fu neral services will be conducted Friday at 9 a.m. from the Immacu late Conception Church with burial in the church cemetery. Mrs. Fees rests at the Union Funeral Home and the Rosary will be recited there at 9 p.m. Thursday. MARTIN-JONES Miss Barbara Ann Martin, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. II. C. Martin, Jr. of St. Louis, and Leon- ard Jones, son of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Jones of Robertsville, were married in an informal ceremony, attended by the immediate families, at Gray Summit Methodist Churrh by Rev. John Dinwiddic, March 4. The attendants were Miss Ellen Jones and Robert Rector of Robertsville.The bride, who was given in marriage by her father, wore a dress of ballerina length blush lace over tulle highlighted by a crushed cummerbund. She wore white accessories and carried brid al white carnations with white lace streamers. The maid of honor chose a dress of pale blue nylon with lace ruf fles cascading over a voluminous skirt. After a brief honeymoon the couple will reside near Roberts ville. NO NEW CASES For the second time since the first of the year no new cases were filed in circuit court during the past week. The court was in recess and only two answers and one application for alimony pending hearing of a suit were filed. NAVY RESUMING HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM Here is real news for men between 17 and 31 ... . The United States Navy has announced that it is resuming its High School Grad uate Training Program which as surcs qualified men assignment to one of the Nsvy's specialized I CUT HALL NEWS Union In The Good Old Day After hearing the older residents of Union talk about the appearance of Union about the turn of the century, I became interested in going back another quarter of a century in order to try to picture it when it was a town. These were the "good old days" when no one had to pay water, electric, or telephone bills for none of these services were available. The Town of Union with 'which this story deals lay sprawled out around the court house square in what is kr.owa as the Original Town. This story was takes from V.a e?r:rt town records found in the City IlalL There eust hsva t . VOL 90No. 2 The County Court has directed H. Osiek. County clerk, to pro ceed to liquidate U.S. Bonds at present market value and deposit the proceeds to the credit of County School Fund Principal Account and to apportion the amount liquidated to the various school districts according to enumeration. Prior to 1946, when Missouri's new construction was adopted, all school moneys were invested in real estate loans. Since that time the funds have been invested in U.S. Bonds. The Court at that time purchased Series G bonds paying 2V4 interest and matur ing in 12 years. Since the bonds have not reached maturity, there will be a small loss on each bond. Based on $199,600 of U.S. bonds, the amount cut down because the bonds have not reached maturity, the school districts should receive about $20 per pupil. Upon this basis Union should receive $19,- 140.00; Washington, $31,200.00; St. Clair, $17,840.00; Sullivan, $20,700.00 and Pacific, $13,240. The amounts are the same for rural districts: $20 per pupil, according to the school enumeration. Dorothy Pierce Wins University Photo Contest Winners of the annual Univer sity of Missouri photo contest, co-sponsored by Kappa Alpha Mu and the Camera Club, were announced last week. Mrs. Dorothy Koch Pierce of New Haven placed first In "the news division with her picture "Ambulance Call." Fifty prize-winning prints of the contest were on display in the gallery of the Memorial Student Union and will be entered this week in the tenth, annual Col-legiale Photo Competition. News and feature pictures taken by Mrs. Pierce, graduate student at the University, have been published (recently in the Columbia" Missourian, St. Louis -Post-Die patch, St. Louis Globe Democrat, Kansas City Times and several industrial publications. P.TA ELECTS OFFICERS The Union P.TA. met in regu lar session Monday evening at the grade school auditorium. A panel report was given by six of the substitute teachers who took a turn at teaching last Tuesday afternoon.Officers elected for the coming year were Eugene H. Osiek, president; Mrs. Wilbur Klcpper, vice-president; Mrs. James Copeland, secretary; Mrs. ' James Russell, treasurer, and Mrs. Robert King, historian. JOHN PATKE FUNERAL SATURDAY,, Graveside services for John M. Patkc, who died at his home in Toledo, Ohio, will be held Saturday afternoon, March 12 at 2 p.m. at the Immaculate Conccp. tion Cemetery. The body will rest at the Union Funeral Home Saturday morning. Mr. Patke is survived by his wife, Ida (nee Harms), and five children. He was the uncle of David, August and John Beckmann of this city. Completes Course in Germany Army Cpl. Joe E. Hcmkcr, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Ilemker, St. Clair, recently was graduated from the Seventh Army Non-Commissioned Officer Academy at Munich, Germany. A cannoneer in Battery D of the 40th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Bat-tallion, he successfully completed a five-week course in leadership, map-reading and other military subjects. Corporal Hcmkcr entered the Army in October, 1941 and completed basic training at Camp Roberts, Calif. He arrived overseas in March, 1994. service schools immediately after recruit training .... Get all the details from the Navy Recruiting Station in the Post Office, Union, Mo. - - ;

STATS EISTCSICii SCCIHT UNTY THE MOST WIDELY CIRCULATED WEEKLY NEWSPAPER IN FRANKLIN COUNTY BUNI Established in the Year 1S6S Ho Change In England's Roads Since the Kiddle Ages Despite High Gas Tax By BOB STERN. VacaUoninr Witk lUWUrr In Entland Doing anything for lunch tomorrow? All right, let a dozen or so of you meet at noon and I'll have the same number of British drivers present, and well compare roads During the luncheon, you'll no doubt discuss new cars and perhaps start a lively debate on driving on the right versus driving on the left. After you have ordered a second cup of coffee and the Britisher beside you a second cup of tea you are thinking of something to say when be asks, "By the way, how much do you pay for petrol in this country?" "Petrol?" you repeat. "Oh, yes, you mean gas. Well, it varies, of course, depending on where you happen to be, but around here it's about 27 cents." Your friend does some quick currency conversion and then astonishes you by saying, "We pay gallons (the Imperial gallon used in Britain and on the Continent is slightly larger than the American gallon)." He quickly adds, "You sec, our petrol tax alone is 30 cents a gallon." "Thirty cents!" you exclaim, attracting everyone's attention. "Why, over here the average is less than 10 cents. (Conclusion:) You certainly must have a wonderful road system." The Britisher shifts uncomfortably in his chair, looks mournfully at his colleagues and almost wails, "It's a frightful system, I'm sorry to say." "What!" "Yes. In the past 40 years, our population has increased nearly 20 percent, and the total number of vehicles has gone up more than 3,000 percent (now nearly six million), but " he pauses for emphasis, "our total road mileage has increased by less than 9 per cent." Absurd, you think, and are about to say so when the visitor continues: "And in the last 20 years there have been virtually no what you would call highways built." "Just a moment," you interrupt. "What about your 30 cents-a- gallon tax? Where does it go?" "tot me put it this way. Most of it DOESN'T go for roads. You see, ever since the first World War, our Road Fund, into which were supposed to go fuel and license taxes, has been continually raided, much of it going into general rev enue. And for the last 18 years, these taxes have been paid direct ly into the treasury, and road fund appropriations have been granted as Parliament has seen fit. "Whereas about 90 cents of your tax dollar is fed back into your highways, about 10 cents is earmarked for our roads. "And here's something else you'll be surprised to learn. While a car license costs you, on an av erage of $10 a year, our people have to pay $35 a year." About now you're beginning to fed genuinely sorry for your British friend. A neighbor, who hauls produce, asks how British commercial transport makes out in this situation The Britisher replies, "Not too well. Our speed limit for trucks is 20 m.p.h." When the gasps die down, he adds, "But on an opera tional basis, it is generally figured at 16 m.p.h." "Hold on now," you object im patiently. "If this condition has existed for so long, why hasn't something been done? I m no poll tician, mind you, but I know darn well nothing like what you've been saying would ever happen over here at least not for long." "Right you are, old man. In the first place, a considerably higher proportion of Americans are af fected directly by the motor ve hicle, and hence by motor vehicle legislation. Over here, every third ocrson owns a vehicle; in our country, it's every eighth. "In the second place and this may be crux of the matter we never do anything new in our country until we've proved it works so many times that it be comes obsolete. "Our roads proved fairly satis factory, you know, in the 19th century. Sir Anthony Eden, in fact, went farther still when he said, The truth is that the pat tern of the (road) system in this country dates back to life and trade as they prevailed in the Middle Ages.' "Don't worry, though. There'll come a time and everyone seems to think it's about here when we'll all get out of bed one morning, dash out and madly begin bringing our road system up to date." . You lean forward and ask apologetically, "Is anything at all being done RIGHT NOW to solve your problem?" "Oh yes," replies the visitor. The latest Government program authorises the spending of $271 million by 1999, but this does'nt necessarily mean that amount will be spent And remembering a five-year plan in 1939, which was abandoned, and 10-year plan in 1948, which wasn't evea started, w aren't toe impressed by th newest one. "And even If the lull mount about 31 cents for.one of your is spent, it would be only on by passes and short roads. We'll have to wait until 1960 before any new highways are begun. Of course, something map crop up before then. "I believe you people like to use the word 'first', in the sense that you've accomplished some thing that no one else has ac complished. Well, we have a few firsts too. But not all of them de note pride. For example, in our financial year 1992-53, taxes from vehicles were more than 10 times the amount our Government spent on roads, which made our country unique in this respect. "We earned another first in the ratio of new road construction to total highway expenditures. In your country, about 62 cents of each road dollar was used to fi nance construction, putting the U.S. in first place. Down the list, at the bottom is our cent and a half. The other 98 'A cents went toward patching up our existing roads. "As a result of all this, we can claim a first in road density. You're about third with 15.9 ve hicles per mile; second is West Germany, and at the top of the list is Britain with about 19 per mile." It is clearly lime to go, but as you are about to get up, someone asks if the accident rate is as high as in the States. Another Britisher takes out notebook and while everyone gets up from the table, he refers to the American periodical, Accident Facts: "According to this, your road fatalities per hundred mil lion vehicle-miles have been grad ually reduced from 16.2 in 1938 to 7.3 in 1952. In comparison, our figure for 1949 was 14, a good deal higher." .... "You know," you say to your guest as you are about to go your separate ways, "we had pretty famous man not long ago Mark Twain was his name who has generally been credited with first saying, 'Everyone talks about1 " "Precisely," interrupts the Brit isher. "Everyone talks about the roads, but no one docs anything about them. Well, I certainly hope that does'nt remain a truism much longer." ' (Acknowledgment for most of the foregoing facts, figures and sentiments is gratefully accorded the British Road Federation: the Standing Joint Committee of the Royal Automobile Club, the Auto mobile Association and the Royal Scottish Automobile Club; the British Broadcasting Corporation and stated opinions from numer ous private British citizens.) Student Nurse At Deaconess Hospital Miss Dorothy Knollmann, daugh ter of Mrs. Henry Schlake of near Union, was capped as a student nurse of the Deaconess School of Nursing at ceremonies held in the school auditorium in St. Louis recently. Miss Knollmann is s graduate of the Union High School,. Class of 1954. LOSES APPEAL Mcridcth L. Weston of St. Louis, found guilty in circuit court of exhibiting obscene and lewd pictures, lost his appeal when the St. Louis Court of Appeals affirmed the judgment of Judge Tate's court on March 4. Weston was found guilty and fined $900 about a year ago. STILL IN HOSPITAL IN SERIOUS CONDITION Russell Huff was moved from St. Francis Hospital to St. Joseph's Hospital in Kirkwood where he was placed under the care of a brain specialist. Although he is now conscious for a few moments at a time he is still considered in a critical condition and no visitors are allowed to see him. James Collins of Union, who was charged with felonious assault on Huff, was released last week on $24)00 bond. The preliminary bearing, which was set for Wednesday, has been continued on account of Huffs condition UNION, Lutherans Join In Easter Sunrise Service County Group Will Again Use Sunset Drive-In Theatre On Highway 47 The Lutheran Churches of Franklin County are joining forc es in an Easter Sunrise Service which will be held at six o'clock Easter Sunday morning at the Sunset Drive-In Theatre on High way 47, between Union and Wash ington. Last year Rev. A. W. Maack of Union, was the speaker. There were 900 who attended in 275 cars, 80 of which were from Un ion. This year Rev. Daniel Ober- dicck, pastor of the Immanucl Lutheran Church of Washington, will be the speaker. He will be assisted by Rev. A. W. Maack, Un ion; Kcv. Walter Gieselmann, Beaufort; and Rev. Frank Zirbcl, Leslie. The committee of laymen, sponsoring the service, is com posed of Malcolm Essen, Union, chairman; Roy Luecker, Leslie, se cretary; Walter Althage, Wash-ington, publicity director. Music for the occasion will be provided by a choir selected from the Lutheran churches in this area. Will Start New Baptist Building Next Month With a total of $50,000 already subscribed towards their new Educational Building, members of the First Baptist Church met for a Kick-Off dinner at the church Wednesday night. Construction will begin in two or three weeks on the land recently purchased by the church on Highway 50. C. S. Alberts of Jefferson City has the contract for the building which will be a three-story HayditeytJriock and brick structure. Bonds in denominations from $50 to $1,000 and bearing 5 interest semi-annually, will be sold to finance the project. Present goal is $100,000. Rev. Ralph F. Powell is pastor of First Baptist Church which was organized 35 years ago. The present structure on Church and State Street has been too small to accommodate the growing congregation for some time. Although a new sanctuary is also needed, the Educational Building was re garded as the more pressing, according to Reverend Powell. The pastor and Mrs. Powell and their family arrived in Union last July from Atlanta, Ga. Entertains Star Matrons and Patrons Mrs. Luclla Hocmcycr, District Deputy Grand Matron, entertained the Worthy Matrons and Patrons of the 32nd District, Order of the Eastern Star, at a covered dish dinner Sunday evening, March 6, with Matrons and Patrons of Un ion, St. Clair and Sullivan acting as joint hostesses and hosts. All chapters were represented with the exception of Robertsville, whose Worthy Patron has just returned home after a serious op eration. It was decided at the meeting to organize a 1955 Matrons and Patrons Club of the 32nd District, with Mrs. -Aneta Iman as chair man, Mrs. Luella Hocmcyer, vice- chairman, and Mrs. Esther Buch-holz as secretary-treasurer. Quar terly meetings and a Christmas party will be held, with the next meeting in New Haven June 5. Tax Gcsninissien To Licet Here On Tax Valuations County Board of Equalization Invites School & City Officials To Discussion The Stale Tax Commission will meet in the County Court room Thursday afternoon at two o'clock with the County Board of Equali ration to discuss the blanket raise ordered by the commission for this county a 60 per cent in crease for city property and a 40 per cent increase in rural property valuations. Members of the County Court trust that school officials and representatives of var ious city governments will attend this discussion so that the valuation raise may be satisfactorily explained and understood. FRANKLIN COUNTY, MISSOURI, THURSDAY, MARCH Wins Elks Award mm ii un u ! iiiiiii hi " ""i't Elmer Berding of the Washington presenting a icheck for $25 to MissSuzann Rommelmann, winner of the Elks Youth Leadership Award. Miss Rommelmann, a senior at the Sullivan High School, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Rom mclmann. Her entry, chosen the winner from contestants in Gascon' adc, Franklin, Warren and Montgomery counties, will be entered in the state competition in the near future. Mr. Berding was the chairman of the blks Committee which will Ends Successful Career As County Official A long and successful career in public office ended Tuesday morning when Edwin T. Kappcl-mann turned over the county collector's office. Kappelmann, who was not a candidate in the last election, was succeeded by Orvillc O. Wagner of Washington. Kap-pelmann's final settlement will be made with the county court today, Thursday, although Wagner be gan work on Tuesday of this week Edward Bauchc and Lois Web ber, appointed by Kappelmann, will continue in the collector's office. Kappelmann, a Republican, took office on March 6, 1943, succeed ing Hamilton Brightwcll, Demo crat, who held office for one term, lie had entered county politics in 1926 when he made his first race for the collector's office and George II. Meyer was elected. Previously he had served for twelve years as city collector at Washington and then spent six years in the hardware and implement business in that city. Kappelmann was living on the farm near New Haven when World War I broke out and he entered service. He was wounded on the Flanders front eleven days before the Armistice. Following his war service he worked for about a year and a half in the International Factory in Washington.During his three terms in office he has seen a number of changes in the collector's work. Asked about the increase in county business during that time he recalled that during his first year the collections amounted to $460,000 while last year they amounted to approximately $1,300,000. PRISONER BURNS BLANKET & MATTRESS One prisoner in county jail will be cold and uncomfortable until he pays for the mattress and blanket he burned up, according to H. Bill Miller, sheriff. The prisoner, Charles Luparcll, set fire to a new blanket and mattress recently purchased by the county and ruined both of them Tuesday morning. Luparcll, who has only been in Franklin County a week, has been in trouble most of the time since he moved to Pacific from Springfield, III. Arrested for careless and reckless driving he was given a suspended sentence of 30 days in jail and a fine of $10 by Judge Randolph H. Schaper, on Thursday. When he became violently abusive of the judge and the police he was found in contempt of court and committed to jail to serve out the sentence, fine and costs at the rate of $2 per day. LIVE BROADCASTS OF BAPTIST SERVICES Live broadcasts of the full morning serivce of First Baptist Church are now being transmitted over KU'W. local radio sUlion. Services begin at 10:49 every Sun day morning and continue for one hour. The live broadcasts began two weeks ago. Previously the services bad been broadcast on recordings. for Leadership - v-.sK.Jr -,i'J?""J"T-" 'I1 -4. YVl v afetttnt Lodge No. 1559, B.P.O.E., is shown make this award annually. Seriously Hurt In Auto Collision Tuesday John Louis Pruitt, 44, of Osage City, sustained serious injuries when he lost control of his car Tuesday morning about ten o'clock and crashed head-on into an auto transport. Pruitt was heading west on U.S. 66 cast of George's Apple Station. He cut out of his lane to pass some cars and apparently lost control as he approached a Chevrolet driven by Jessie Blcse of Sherman, Mo., followed by an auto transport driven by James K. Edgcman of Tulsa. The auto transport drove into the middle lane in an effort to miss a collision but I'ruitt's car hit the Chevrolet a glancing blow and then crashed head-on into (he transport. I'ruitt's car and the transport were severely damaged. Pruift alone sustained serious injuries.. He is in St. Francis Hospital with a possible skull fracture and severe lacerations about the head and shoulders. Argument and Shotgun Duel Hospitalizes Two Jones Form, Near Robertsville, Popular 3.2 Beer ioint for Negroes 1 A Sunday afternoon fight at the Jim Jones farm on Robertsville Route 2 ended in a shooting' with Roy Stanley of Washington and Mack Brown of Robertsville the casualties. All those involved were negroes. The Jones Farm where the shooting occurred is a popular hang-out with a license to sell 3.2 beer. Brown went home to get his gun after a fight with Johnny Brooks, Pacific. Brooks, also arm cd, watched with Stanley as Brown got out of his car and circled the house. As he ncarcd the kitchen door someone called "There he is," and Brown fired his 12 guage shotgun loaded with a single deer slug. The slug, about the size of a man's thumb, penetrated the wall ot the porch, went through Man' ley's ankle joint, through two sides of a gas stove, a coal bucket and finally lodged in the base board of the next room. As Brown ran back to his car to get another slug Brooks fired his 12 guage through a window pane and peppered him with No. 6 shot. Stanley was taken to Veterans Hospital in St. Louis and Brown to St. Francis. Brown is charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill. MATHEW STUCKEL DEAD Mathew J. Stuckcl, who has !cen in ill health for some time, died at his home Tuesday evening, March S. Funeral services for Mr. Stuckel, who was in his 61st year, will be held at 2 p.m. Friday from the Zion E. k R. Church with interment in the church cemetery. The remains will rest at the Union Funeral Home until noon oo Friday. 10, 1955 Compromise On State Extension Sponsorship Dill House Committee Approves Measure Cutting Ties with Private Agencies The House Agriculture Commit tee Tuesday agreed on a compro mise bill proposing to sever the State Extension Service fromjof sponsorship of outside agencies. Most members of the committee said the bill still was not entirely acceptable, but it was the consensus that the bill should be sent to the floor for further debate. Several amendments recommended by the University of Missouri anrl offered by Representative Robert Smith (Dcm.), Boone county, were adopted by the committee Smith said the changes were considered necessary to make the bill constitutional. The committee compromise left in the extension program the provision for county advisory coun cils one man and one woman from each towsnhip. The councils will work with county farm and home agents who arc employes of the university. County Appropriations Appropriation minimums which must be budgeted by the various county courts to finance extension offices were accepted as recommended by an agriculture subcom mittee. They were as follows: For first and second class counties, $10,000 a year; larger third class counties, $3000; smaller third class counties, $2500; larger fourth class counties $1900; and smaller fourth class counties, $1200. One amendmnct sponsored by Smith and added to the bill read as follows: "The University of Missouri, be fore assigning or removing any agents or extension personnel, shall first consult with and advise with the elected agriculture extension council of the county affect, cd." Additional language was added by committee members to provide that an agent may be changed "if the personnel offered is not satisfactory to the advisory council." AUXILIARY SPONSORS ESSAY CONTEST Union Unit No. 297, American liCgion Auxiliary, sponsored the Americanism contest in the Union schools during February, Americanism month on their calendar of activities. The topic was "How ( an I Best Preserve My American Heritage? ' There were two dvi. sions, with awards in each division. In Division II, composed of 10th, 11th and 12th grades, there was onlv one ntrv n first nlar was awarded to Terry Lindemann. Terry is a sophomore in Union High School. In Division I, composed of the 7th, 8th and 9th grades, first place was awarded to Michael Conlcy, 8th grade, Immaculate Conception School; second place to Judy Jarvis, 8th grade, Union Grade School; third place to Sandra Clark, 8th grade, Immaculate Conception School; fourth place to Sally English, 8th grade, Immaculate Conception School. First place in each division will be forwarded to the District for further competition. Judges were Mrs. Alice Toclkc, Mrs. H. M. Denny and Mrs. Polly Scott. $1379 In Fines Paid To City by Police Court Five Cases Heard by Police Judge Keller Soturday Geo. Keller, police judge, has reported total fines collected and paid into the city treasury of $1379 during 1994. The fines ranged from $1 to $100. Five cases were heard by Judge Keller Saturday. Tom Pointer and A. W. Kassman were each assessed $1 fine and costs for being intoxicated; Don Ridglcy was fined $9 and costs for operating a car upon the streets of Union with muffler cut-out and $39 and costs for operating car at an excessive rate of speed upon the streets of Union; and Jess Schsfferkoetter was fined $9 and eosts for being Intoxicated and entering the home of James and Minnie Burton against their will. Mrs. Wm. Buchanan and sons, Denny and Michael, plan to leave Monday for Bradenton, Ha., where they will join Mr. Buchanan who is assisting his father, Olus C. Buchanan, in his business during bis illness. Distribution Ordered of the County and Township School Fond How in US Bonds Named Homemaker of Tomorrow Lorna Kalthoff, daughter of Mrs. Elenora Kalthoff of Beaufort, has been named the "Homemaker of Tomorrow" in Union High School. She received the highest score in a written examination which tested the homemaking aptitude the senior girls in her gradu- ation class. She will receive a gol den award pin. cook books for her- self and her school, and she will be entered in competition to name this state's candidate for the title ot Betty Crocker American Home, maker of Tomorrow. A scholarship ot $1,900 will be awarded each state winner, and she will receive a trip with her school advisor to Washington, D.C., Williamsburg, Vs.. and Philadelphia. Her school will receive a set of the Encyclo pedia Britannica. Two Youths Sent To Boonvllle for Robbery Charles Vernon Martin, 13, and David Cantrell, 19, were taken to Roonville Tuesday. William Glumm, 17-year-old third member of the group that burglarized the DUncan and Dierking homes near St. Clair, was bound over to the circuit court and committed to jail. All three had served time at Missouri Hills and drove out to Franklin County in a car stolen by Cantrell in St. Louis. Cantrell. who escaped when thev were discovered at the Ed win Dierking home, was arrested the next day by St. Clair police Some of the jewelry which they look has been recovered but most of it was lost when the boys ran into the woods, MRS. MARGARET FEES DEAD Mm. Margaret Fees, who was in her 87th year, died at the M Francis Hospital in Washington Tuesdsy evening, Msrch 8. Fu neral services will be conducted Friday at 9 a.m. from the Immacu late Conception Church with burial in the church cemetery. Mrs. Fees rests at the Union Funeral Home and the Rosary will be recited there at 9 p.m. Thursday. MARTIN-JONES Miss Barbara Ann Martin, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. II. C. Martin, Jr. of St. Louis, and Leon- ard Jones, son of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Jones of Robertsville, were married in an informal ceremony, attended by the immediate families, at Gray Summit Methodist Churrh by Rev. John Dinwiddic, March 4. The attendants were Miss Ellen Jones and Robert Rector of Robertsville.The bride, who was given in marriage by her father, wore a dress of ballerina length blush lace over tulle highlighted by a crushed cummerbund. She wore white accessories and carried brid al white carnations with white lace streamers. The maid of honor chose a dress of pale blue nylon with lace ruf fles cascading over a voluminous skirt. After a brief honeymoon the couple will reside near Roberts ville. NO NEW CASES For the second time since the first of the year no new cases were filed in circuit court during the past week. The court was in recess and only two answers and one application for alimony pending hearing of a suit were filed. NAVY RESUMING HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM Here is real news for men between 17 and 31 ... . The United States Navy has announced that it is resuming its High School Grad uate Training Program which as surcs qualified men assignment to one of the Nsvy's specialized I CUT HALL NEWS Union In The Good Old Day After hearing the older residents of Union talk about the appearance of Union about the turn of the century, I became interested in going back another quarter of a century in order to try to picture it when it was a town. These were the "good old days" when no one had to pay water, electric, or telephone bills for none of these services were available. The Town of Union with 'which this story deals lay sprawled out around the court house square in what is kr.owa as the Original Town. This story was takes from V.a e?r:rt town records found in the City IlalL There eust hsva t . VOL 90No. 2 The County Court has directed H. Osiek. County clerk, to pro ceed to liquidate U.S. Bonds at present market value and deposit the proceeds to the credit of County School Fund Principal Account and to apportion the amount liquidated to the various school districts according to enumeration. Prior to 1946, when Missouri's new construction was adopted, all school moneys were invested in real estate loans. Since that time the funds have been invested in U.S. Bonds. The Court at that time purchased Series G bonds paying 2V4 interest and matur ing in 12 years. Since the bonds have not reached maturity, there will be a small loss on each bond. Based on $199,600 of U.S. bonds, the amount cut down because the bonds have not reached maturity, the school districts should receive about $20 per pupil. Upon this basis Union should receive $19,- 140.00; Washington, $31,200.00; St. Clair, $17,840.00; Sullivan, $20,700.00 and Pacific, $13,240. The amounts are the same for rural districts: $20 per pupil, according to the school enumeration. Dorothy Pierce Wins University Photo Contest Winners of the annual Univer sity of Missouri photo contest, co-sponsored by Kappa Alpha Mu and the Camera Club, were announced last week. Mrs. Dorothy Koch Pierce of New Haven placed first In "the news division with her picture "Ambulance Call." Fifty prize-winning prints of the contest were on display in the gallery of the Memorial Student Union and will be entered this week in the tenth, annual Col-legiale Photo Competition. News and feature pictures taken by Mrs. Pierce, graduate student at the University, have been published (recently in the Columbia" Missourian, St. Louis -Post-Die patch, St. Louis Globe Democrat, Kansas City Times and several industrial publications. P.TA ELECTS OFFICERS The Union P.TA. met in regu lar session Monday evening at the grade school auditorium. A panel report was given by six of the substitute teachers who took a turn at teaching last Tuesday afternoon.Officers elected for the coming year were Eugene H. Osiek, president; Mrs. Wilbur Klcpper, vice-president; Mrs. James Copeland, secretary; Mrs. ' James Russell, treasurer, and Mrs. Robert King, historian. JOHN PATKE FUNERAL SATURDAY,, Graveside services for John M. Patkc, who died at his home in Toledo, Ohio, will be held Saturday afternoon, March 12 at 2 p.m. at the Immaculate Conccp. tion Cemetery. The body will rest at the Union Funeral Home Saturday morning. Mr. Patke is survived by his wife, Ida (nee Harms), and five children. He was the uncle of David, August and John Beckmann of this city. Completes Course in Germany Army Cpl. Joe E. Hcmkcr, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Ilemker, St. Clair, recently was graduated from the Seventh Army Non-Commissioned Officer Academy at Munich, Germany. A cannoneer in Battery D of the 40th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Bat-tallion, he successfully completed a five-week course in leadership, map-reading and other military subjects. Corporal Hcmkcr entered the Army in October, 1941 and completed basic training at Camp Roberts, Calif. He arrived overseas in March, 1994. service schools immediately after recruit training .... Get all the details from the Navy Recruiting Station in the Post Office, Union, Mo. - - ;